title: Effects of obesity on functional capacity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationships between BMI and walking speed, balance control, sit-to-stand performance (a measure of mass specific lower limb power), and endurance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) and 10 women with normal body weight (BMI between 18 kg/m(2) and 25 kg/m(2) ) were enrolled in this observational study. The obese group comprised 12 persons with a BMI ≥ 30 and <35 (obese), 14 subjects with a BMI ≥ 35 and <40 (severe obesity) and 10 people with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2) (morbid obesity). All subjects underwent a clinical examination, a gait test, an endurance test (6 minutes walking test), a mass specific lower limb power test (five times sit-to-stand) and a balance test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese women exhibited slower fast gait speeds (P < 0.05) with correspondingly shorter stride lengths, poorer sit-to-stand performance (P < 0.05), and endurance (P < 0.05). However, once the state of severe obesity was reached, additional weight gain (morbid obesity) does not seem to decrease these functional capacities any further.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study underlines the importance of assessing obese patients' related physical problems in an early stage of obesity in order to focus exercise regimens and promote appropriate health behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre, Department of Community Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pataky
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armand
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller-Pinget
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golay
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allet
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*